Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 5
January 30, 2025
First Line Friday: 31 January 2025
This week I’m joining First Line Friday. First Line Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Carrie @ Reading is My Superpower! So grab the book nearest you, your current read, or the book on top of your TBR stack and share the first line.
My pick this week is…
The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel
Blurb:A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel from the international bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold.
Alfred Smettle is not your average Hitchcock fan. He is the founder, owner, and manager of The Hitchcock Hotel, a sprawling Victorian house in the White Mountains dedicated to the Master of Suspense. There, Alfred offers his guests round-the-clock film screenings, movie props and memorabilia in every room, plus an aviary with fifty crows.
To celebrate the hotel’s first anniversary, he invites his former best friends from his college Film Club for a reunion. He hasn’t spoken to any of them in sixteen years, not after what happened.
But who better than them to appreciate Alfred’s creation? And to help him finish it.
After all, no Hitchcock set is complete without a body.
And the first line is…
The crow waits until the guilty one disappears; then he flies down the hallway.
I loved this first line and this book! It’s perfect for fans of Alfred Hitchcock movies with plenty of Easter eggs thrown in!
January 29, 2025
Book Review: All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
Romantic Suspense, Standalone
ebook, Paperback, Audiobook, 384 pages
January 7, 2025 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Blurb:*This limited deluxe edition comes with gorgeous stained edges and spot gloss*
Sometimes the last thing you expect is exactly what you need, the final missing piece. And sometimes it comes in the form of a towering, broody sheriff, determined to get in your way at every step.
Ridley Sawyer knows what it’s like to miss someone, to feel like a piece of her vanished—because it happened to her the night her twin sister disappeared.
Now, Ridley channels that loss into hope, traveling the country covering cold cases for her true crime podcast. She might not have found justice for her sister but that doesn’t stop her from finding it for others.
Until Sheriff Colter Brooks gets in her way.
Colt knows what it’s like to have reporters descend on his town in the wake of a tragedy, and he’s not about to let a fiery podcaster stir up trouble. It doesn’t matter that her haunting blue eyes tell him there’s more to Ridley’s story or that he can’t stop imagining what it would be like to touch her.
But when Ridley’s cold case turns hot and she’s thrust into the crosshairs, Colt has no choice but to step in. Suddenly, Ridley’s living at his house, drinking his whiskey, and stealing his dog’s affections. But she’s also proving that she’s so much more than his first impression.
And as they get closer to the truth, the game they’ve been playing might just turn deadly…
My Review:After the tragic disappearance of her twin sister, Ridley has made it her mission to help other families of tragedies find justice by traveling the country in her VW bus with her podcast Sounds Like Serial. Sheriff Colter Brooks wants none of the spectacle to touch his sister Emerson, the victim of a botched abduction when Ridley rolls into town to cover the case. But from the moment they meet there is a spark that pulls them from opposite sides of the same case to something closer as Ridley digging up the past has darkness circling the town once more.
I loved all of the characters in this book! Not only did Ridley and Colt have great chemistry but Shady Cove was well fleshed out with a fantastic cast of characters, each adding so much to the story. This is the kind of small town feel that you wish you could move right in although I do like that the author chose to include a small subplot of the opioid epidemic and other real life issues that are very present in small towns and often get hidden under rose-colored glasses in most small town romances. I also love how this author portrays law enforcement in her books. As a dispatcher for a small town police department I definitely find her depictions realistic. I also really enjoyed the podcast aspect of the story, it was really interesting! And I can’t forget all the furry friends in this book! Tater and her “tooth hugs” was adorable as well as Bear and Bowser!
My Rating:
5 of 5 Knives!
January 28, 2025
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Tears of the Wolf!
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released.
Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley
Fantasy, Wrath and Weeping Book 1
eBook, Paperback, 208 Pages
February 21, 2025 by Book Goblin Books
Blurb:After the murder of her child, Brynn of the Istovari wants nothing more than to escape the shackles of her birthright. As a sorceress and the last of a once-great bloodline, many still seek to use her for their own schemes. Brynn will do anything for the chance at freedom, even if it means marrying an upstart warrior from the far north.
Cenric needs a wife—but not just any wife—a sorceress. Having recently reclaimed his inheritance after a youth spent across the sea, a sorceress will bring security and legitimacy in his estranged homeland.
A marriage gives both Brynn and Cenric what they want—for now.
In the far northern reaches lies a land ruled by pride and strict codes of honor. As Brynn and Cenric struggle to navigate the aftermath of their hasty union, they soon realize that rival factions within the kingdom are on the verge of war once again.
Alone, they will be destroyed by the coming storm. Together, they might stand a chance.
Why I Want to Read This Book:I love Elisabeth’s “Book Goblin” content on social media and as I began following her I saw posts about Tears of the Wolf and couldn’t help being curious about it. I like that it’s inspired by Viking and Anglo-Saxon history too. This is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of the rest of the winter.
Will you be checking this book out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?
January 27, 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024This week’s TTT is about new-to-us authors we read for the first time in 2024. Here are mine…
1. Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
2. Jenn Plummer 
3. Alison Weir
4. Brynne Weaver 
5. Eva Simmons
xr:d:DAF5EZYuRPo:56,j:365209648298368942,t:240208216. Jenny Kiefer
7. Erica Ruth Neubauer
8. Ali Hazelwood
9. Amy Daws
10. Bee Littlefield
What authors did you read for the first time in 2024? Did any of mine make your list?
January 26, 2025
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 27 January 2025
This week I’m linking up to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date!
#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.
Last Week I Read:Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes Corpora
This one wasn’t awful but I didn’t love it either. It was like I described it last week, predictable. But that gorgeous cover… 
I loved this one and my friend is just finishing it up for our buddy read. I already placed a hold on book 2 through my library’s Libby system.
Mister Magic by Kiersten White
What if there was a cult dedicated to your favorite childhood show? That was this book. I enjoyed it but I felt the ending was a letdown.
Sweet Girl by Jenn Plummer
This was a really hot Valentine’s Day novella. If you like spicy why choose romance check this one out!
Currently Reading:The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
I had this one on hold so long I forgot what it was about. Right now I’m leaning toward DNFing it.
Reading Next:A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
My Libby hold came through on this one so it will be my next audiobook.
What are you reading and loving this week? Have you read any of these?
January 25, 2025
The Sunday Post: Cold Snaps, Onyx Storm, and Slowly Emerging
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.
Cold Snaps, Onyx Storm, and Slowly EmergingHey Book Blogger Friends! I won’t ask how your week was. This past week was… a lot.
The beginning of this week brought some of the coldest windchills I can remember in my part of Wisconsin in my lifetime (I’m 32) at -35 degrees. When I picked up groceries on Monday I had to wear leggings under my sweatpants, 2 pairs of socks, a t-shirt under my hoodie, my heaviest winter coat, gloves, a hat, and scarf. I looked kind of like Count Orlock from Nosferatu in my coat.
Tuesday as many already know was release day for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. Amazon was unable to fulfill my preorder due to “supply chain issues” as of Thursday and I spent 2 hours looking for it yesterday at any store I could think of that sold books. Don’t worry, I have a friend hopefully tracking me down a copy on Monday otherwise I’m 1,414th in line for the audiobook from my library. I still think this is an unfair gimmick on the publisher’s part.
Now that we’re approaching the end of January and the cold snap has ended I’m slowly getting back out into the world as my seasonal affective disorder lifts a little and I’m glad it doesn’t feel like I’m being strangled by depression anymore.
Last Week on the Blog:
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 20 January 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Victorian Psycho
First Line Friday: 24 January 2025
Stacking the Shelves: 25 January 2025
It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 27 January 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: 10 New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2024
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Tears of the Wolf!
Book Review: All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles
First Line Friday: 31 January 2025
eARC:
January 24, 2025
Stacking the Shelves: 25 January 2025
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual.
Books Added to My Shelves This Week:This week I received a new release from an author whose Patreon I subscribe to and a special edition I found used.
Signed Book:I subscribe to Eva Simmons’s Patreon and the tier I’m on always gets signed paperback copies of her new releases. Ghost just released last week.
Special Edition:I knew I wanted a physical copy of Butcher and Blackbird after reading an ebook copy from the library last year. I debated between the collector’s edition and the Bookish Box edition which I’d been eying on PangoBooks and decided to go with the Bookish Box one because it had cooler special features.
What books did you add to your shelves this week? Have you/do you plan to read either of these?
January 23, 2025
First Line Friday: 24 January 2025
This week I’m joining First Line Friday. First Line Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Carrie @ Reading is My Superpower! So grab the book nearest you, your current read, or the book on top of your TBR stack and share the first line.
My pick this week is…
Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes CorporaBlurb:“Playmate, come and play with me…”
A beloved classic reimagined with a dark twist.
After her parents’ painful divorce, Evie Archer hopes that moving to Ravenglass, Massachusetts, is the fresh start that her family needs. But Evie quickly realizes that her new home—known by locals as the Horror House—carries its own dark past after learning about Holly Hobbie, who mysteriously vanished in her bedroom one night.
But traces of Holly linger in the Horror House and slowly begin to take over Evie’s life. A strange shadow follows her everywhere she goes, and Evie starts to lose sight of what’s real and what isn’t the more she learns about The Lost Girl.
Can Evie find out what happened the night of Holly’s disappearance? Or is history doomed to repeat itself in the Horror House?
And the first line is…
The little silver car darted down the country roads like a minnow, cresting the hills and dipping low into the valleys, carrying three new souls into western Massachusetts.
As first lines go this one is just so-so. Kind of like the book overall sadly.
January 21, 2025
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Victorian Psycho
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released.
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
Horror/Thriller, Standalone
eBook, Hardcover, Paperback, 208 Pages
February 4, 2025 by Liveright
Blurb:From the devious author of Mrs. March comes a gruesome and gleeful new novel that probes the psyche of a bloodthirsty governess.
Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect Victorian governess—she’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But the longer Winifred spends within the estate’s dreary confines, and the more she learns of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family, the more trouble she has sticking to her plan. Whether creeping across the moonlit lawns in her undergarments or gently tormenting the house staff, Winifred struggles at every turn to stifle the horrid compulsions of her past. When her chillingly dark imagination breaches the feeble boundary of reality on Christmas morning, Winifred is finally ready to deliver on her generous gifts.
Wielding her signature sardonic wit and a penchant for the gorgeously macabre, Virginia Feito returns with a vengeance in Victorian Psycho.
Why I Want to Read This Book:I just saw a glowing review of this book online and the reviewer said it was dark and readers might find it repulsive and grotesque but it was also funny and had really good twists. With descriptions like that I’m more than curious about it!
Will you be checking this book out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?
January 20, 2025
Top Ten Tuesday: The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book Collection
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Tuesday: The Ten Most Recent Additions to My Book CollectionThis week’s TTT is all about the most recent additions to our book collections so let’s talk recent book mail!
1. All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles (Signed Copy)
2. Ready or Not by Jenn Plummer (Signed Copy)3. The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
4. Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (Bookish Box Edition) 5. Ghost by Eva Simmons (Signed Copy)6. The Witch’s Guide to Manifestation by Mystic Dylan
7. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (Audiobook)
8. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (Physical Copy – previously borrowed audiobook from library)
9. Mind Games by Nora Roberts (Physical copy, read an eARC last spring)
10. A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall (ARC)
What was your most recent book mail?
